NO. 95. AN ACT RELATING TO PROCEDURAL
PROTECTIONS FOR VERMONTERS ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICARE PART D AND VPHARM.

(H.873)

It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of
Vermont:

Sec. 1. MEDICAID AND VERMONTRX PHARMACY PROTOCOLS

(a) No later than March 8,
2006, the office of Vermont health access shall establish emergency payment and
case review protocols for individuals eligible for Medicare and Medicaid,
VPharm, or assistance under the provisions of No. 84 of the Acts of the 2005
Adj. Sess. (2006) as amended. The purpose of the protocols shall be to ensure
that pharmacists provide immediate referrals and transitional prescriptions to
meet an individual’s immediate medication needs while the individual’s prescription
drug coverage problem is resolved.

(b) Notwithstanding the
limitations on the duration of assistance contained in No. 84 of the Acts of
the 2005 Adj. Sess. (2006) as amended, the office shall extend assistance under
the provisions of that act to Vermont residents who, upon determination of the
director, are not enrolled in a prescription drug plan or are enrolled in a
plan outside the Vermont region, and to provide coverage for cost-sharing to
ensure that VPharm recipients pay no co‑payment, and individuals eligible
for Medicaid have a maximum of a $5.00 co-payment. If the office determines
that there continue to be operational issues in Medicare part D, it may revert
to the assistance contained in No. 84 of the Acts of the 2005 Adj. Sess. (2006).